Sep 18, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) is congratulated in the dugout after a pitching change in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images
Padres $71 Million Starting Pitcher May Opt Out; Dodgers to Pursue?
The San Diego Padres have a strong rotation, but things could change heading into the offseason. Dylan Cease is set to hit the free agent market, and there’s a chance Michael King could leave as well. Baseball insider and former general manager Jim Bowden believes King could become a free agent through a mutual option. “King has vaulted to the top of these starting pitcher rankings simply by outperforming the field,” wrote Bowden. “He has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past four seasons, including last year, when he went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA over 31 appearances (30 starts). This season, he has a 2.59 ERA over 10 starts with 64 strikeouts and 17 walks.” King’s ERA ranks 13th among all starting pitchers in baseball, just behind phenom Paul Skenes. His performance has helped keep the Padres in contention for the National League West division title. The Padres entered Thursday 1 1/2 games out of first place. Bowden also mentions one thing that adds to King’s value. “That he has only 477 major-league innings on his pitching odometer also increases his value,” wrote Bowden. “He has a $15 mutual option for 2026 that’s expected to be bought out for $3.75 million.” If King hits the market, he will be one of the most highly sought starting pitchers at just 29 years old. With all of the pitching injuries the Los Angeles Dodgers have seen this year, it’s expected they will pursue King. Spotrac expects King to sign a four-year deal worth $71 million in the offseason, but the Padres will look to extend him.
Padres’ Top National League Closer ‘Expected to Opt Out’ After Season Ends
The San Diego Padres have a lot riding on this season as they could lose several big-name players in free agency. One of those is closer Robert Suarez, who has been one of the best closers in baseball this season. Former general manager Jim Bowden expects Suarez to depart San Diego in the offseason in search of his last big-time contract. “Suarez has arguably been the best closer in the NL this season, converting 15 of 16 save opportunities with a 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 19 innings,” wrote Bowden. “He has $8 million player options for 2026 and 2027 but is expected to opt out this fall.” The 34-year-old closer is currently making $10 million this season with the Padres. Spotrac provides a breakdown of the remainder of his contract:
2026: $8 million* 2027: $8 million *opt out available after 2025 season Even in his mid-30s, Suarez is projected by Spotrac to sign a three-year deal worth just under $36 million. While this would only provide him an extra year, his average annual value next season and in 2027 would increase by $4 million before getting $12 million in 2028. This offseason would allow Suarez to cash in on a strong year. While the Padres could reunite with him if he does opt out, it’s difficult to see him returning once the opt out is official. That would mean his agent and the Padres were unable to come to agreement prior to the season ending. The Padres will need to do everything in their power to keep Suarez to help extend their contention window unless they believe they can make the team better by trading him.
King gives hitters that sinking feeling — and all they can do is stop and stare
When Michael King knocks, he knows the hitter won’t answer.
He’s studied their habits like a burglar casing a house. And with his sinker, he’s coming in — through the front door or the back door.
King has become a master at stealing strikes for the Padres, particularly third strikes. The sinker is his lockpick.
King has already gotten 16 called strikeouts with his sinker this season — 11 front-door sinkers to freeze left-handed hitters, five backdoor sinkers to freeze righties. His sinker has produced more backwards K’s than any pitch type in the Majors.
“Rarely am I throwing it glove-side and wanting a swing,” King said. “So if I’m throwing it front-hip [to a lefty], I do not want a swing. That’s me trying to get a freeze, where I’m locking him up.”
Since he joined the Padres at the start of last season, King has racked up 56 of those punchouts with his sinker, tops among all MLB pitchers over that time. He gets those backwards K’s because he understands the hitters he’s facing, and he understands how to use his stuff against them.
“As a putaway pitch, that’s where it’s strictly based off the hitter’s reactions, and also two-strike approaches,” King said. “There are certain guys that get super aggressive in two-strike counts, and I’ll rarely use the sinker. … It’s for guys that I know are patient, or guys that I’ve set up for something that starts as a ball and finishes as a strike.”
King’s sinker works as a “freeze” pitch because of its extreme horizontal movement. It’s averaging 19 inches of horizontal break this season, among the best in MLB. That makes it a pitch he can start far off the plate, but have it finish in the zone for an easy called strike, especially when you add in King’s deceptive crossfire delivery.
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